19-06-2025
£30k for being compared to Darth Vader. £25k for a birthday card. £17k for being called a wierdo. How Britain's employment tribunals became a laughing stock... and have reached breaking point
When Lorna Rooke's NHS colleagues entered her personality traits into a light-hearted online quiz to gauge which Star Wars character she most resembled, they had no idea this apparently innocent piece of workplace banter would lead to a court hearing and ultimately cost the taxpayer £30,000.
But then the blood donation worker was told she allegedly bore most similarity to Darth Vader. Ms Rooke decided it was no laughing matter and took her bosses to an employment tribunal.
